The Golden Rule of Blogging

This is a bit outside of the direct context of this blog, but the ideology surrounding this post applies to every blogger. Fellow VoIP blogger Jon Arnold wrote an interesting post earlier today on a blogger named Genius Boy, who has been “leaking” information about RIM’s next product “Pearl” and the ethics surrounding using a blog as a tool for good and evil.

Personally, I feel it is up to each and every blogger to set their own ethics and then let them be known to all. I think where problems may occur as this medium grows in it’s effectiveness as a marketing and public relations tool is when individuals and corporations decide to “mask” their true intentions. But, even if a blogger or corporation decided to mask their intentions, the “social” nature of the medium allows for community policing. As quick as you built the community and your loyal readership, these same individuals can destroy the community and your creditability if they find the you or your corporation to be a fraud.

So with that, let me introduce the Golden Rule of Blogging:

Be as open, up-front, and honest with your sources and readers as you would want them to be with you.

If you follow this rule, I am positive you, your blog, and or your company will never run into the myriad of issues that could arise with the capitalism meets this medium.

Fellow bloggers and blog readers, what do you think about the topics of blogging ethic and blogging for good or evil?

Disclaimer:
Taking my own advice, from time to time I will be posting anouncements, product reviews, etc that will be sponsored. Whenever this is done, I will make sure to alert you.